Gay Sticky Rice - a specialty of the Fatherland

Phu Tho - the land of origin of the nation is famous for many specialties including Ga Gay sticky rice. In My Lung commune, Muong region, Yen Lap district, Ga Gay sticky rice is grown and processed by the local people here in a unique way, making unforgettable delicious tastes for those who have enjoyed it.

Ga Gay Sticky Rice is currently bred and planted widely, but it seems that only in the Muong My Lung - Yen Lap region can it produce such fragrant sticky rice grains. It is known that Ga Gay sticky rice has a different growing time than the other existing rice varieties. Its crop season is from May to October every year. The rice plant has a tall stem and each rice flower is upright. For harvesting, you must use a specialized tool of the Muong people, which is called a “tum”. After harvesting, the rice plant is dried as a whole and rice is only milled when used.

Regarding processing, Ga Gay sticky rice is cooked very simple, no need to be too fussy. Just clean the rice, then put it in the rice cooker and cook for about 2 hours. The cooked sticky rice has a sweet aroma, is chewy and not sticky to hands. Fragrant sticky rice dipped in peanut salt and sesame grown by villagers creates a familiar, rustic yet unforgettable dish. The more you hold the sticky rice, the more flexible it becomes. Muong people especially often wrap the sticky rice in Dong or banana leaves when serving. Even if kept in the refrigerator, the sticky rice will still be fragrant the next day without re-steaming. During big holidays, important occasions or family events, people often cook alcohol and Ga Gay sticky rice to treat distinguished guests.

Mr. Dinh Tien Duat - Chairman of My Lung Commune People’s Committee said: "In the past, this type of rice specialty was only in well-off families and on the occasion of the Muong people’s new rice festival or special Tet holidays. In recent years, with the awareness of preserving the genetic resources of such a precious rice variety and seeing the benefits of the Ga Gay sticky rice specialty that is popular with the market, more and more households in 10/11 residential areas in the commune are participating in growing this rice variety. Currently, the number of households growing Ga Gay sticky rice accounts for over 70% of the total number of agricultural households in the entire commune, however the production output is still not enough to meet the market demand. As a specialty of the Fatherland - My Lung Ga Gay Sticky Rice has achieved a 3-star OCOP product certification, and is sold at the current price of VND 45,000 - 50,000 per kg, much higher than other types of rice."

(Source: baophutho.vn)